->''"Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you get good at."''-->-- '''Rust Cohle''', ''Series/TrueDetective''

Someone has a less than morally sound job, like a drug dealer, arms dealer, assassin, or [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking lobbyist]]. They usually get into the job to make ends meet, especially if the job is illegal, but when they become financially sound or even get a legal job, [[ShouldntYouStopStealing they refuse to stop]]. Why? -- because they're good at it. The fulfillment of being competent has surpassed the fulfillment of being a "good person." Or, they're willing (if in a legal job, like lobbyists) to let their job damage their personal lives and public facade for the simple reason of competence.

See also DoWrongRight and PunchClockVillain. Compare EvilVirtues and ChronicVillainy. Contrast ReluctantWarrior, who fights because he has to... and isn't necessarily good at it. Many character who choose to be JustAGangster do so because crime is the only thing they're good at.----!!Examples:

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[[folder:Comics]]* Mr. Nice from ''ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures'' wound up becoming a master criminal because he is ''incredibly'' good at it. His family first got an inkling of his future when, ''as a baby'', he trounced and disarmed a burglar. He actually was a kiddy TV show host (his happiest days), until his live show was attacked by some terrorists and he discovered how proficient he was at combat by engaging them head-on and handily winning. His TV career ended that moment, and he discovered that being a nicer guy than Ned Flanders didn't stop him from being a freakin' great criminal, ultimately joining Mastermind and the Perfesser to form the Threatening Trio.** In the "Madmen & Lovers" arc in one Batman series, this is part of the Joker's origin story. He was a brilliant, psychopathic, criminal. But he was so good it was ''boring'' and he was ready to kill himself as a result. A young Harley Quinn (working as a bartender and unaware that her mopey patron "Jack" was referring to his skill as a violent criminal) convinces him that if you are really good at something, you owe it to yourself and the world to go out and do it. He agrees to try OneLastJob. Batman shows up, and his obsession with the caped crusader begins, renewing his passion for life...* ''ComicBook/LobsterRandom'' claims to be a professional torturer because he's good at it, understands it and can't do anything else.* [[{{Comicbook/Nexus}} Nexus]] spent most of his career bitterly miserable that a SufficientlyAdvanced alien was compelling him to travel the universe executing mass murderers. The oppressed cheered him for it and tyrants loathed him for it, but Horatio himself just wanted to stop killing people. When, after years, he ''finally'' gets his wish--the above-mentioned alien agrees to leave him alone, and another member of the alien's race agrees to maintain his super-powers--Horatio realizes that he's spent his entire adult life doing this, and executing murderers is the only thing he knows how to ''do.''* Occasionally [[ComicBook/TheHulk Bruce Banner]] is called out on the fact that, despite having an intellect on par with Reed Richards or Tony Stark, before becoming the Hulk he devoted his life to making bombs. His explanation? He was good at it. And indeed, he made the most destructive bomb ever; one that never stops exploding. [[PersonOfMassDestruction The Hulk.]]* During several of his inner monologues, ComicBook/ThePunisher acknowledges that killing is what he is good at. In Jason Aaron's MAX run, part of the reason he could not adjust to life after he left the military was that he had honed his skills as a killer; he knew no other way of life.* Comics/{{Wolverine}} has a whole CatchPhrase about this, in reference to his outstanding skills at, well, killing people:-->'''Wolverine:''' I'm the best there is at what I do. But what I do isn't very nice.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Fan Works]]* ''FanFic/ABrighterDark'': Hans' justification for being a horrific rapist and murderer is because it's the only thing he's good at, and he just happens to have a lot of fun while doing it. [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Sometimes he feels like the only purpose of his existence was to kill people and be hated for it.]] Comes off more sympathetically than it sounds.* In ''Fanfic/ForumOfThrones'', this is one of the Burned Man's reasons for remaining in Oldtown even after it got so dangerous for him and despite Harpy's wishes. As a cripple, he simply has no other opportunity to affect the lives of others.* In chapter 105 of ''Fanfic/AmbienceAFleetSymphony'', Suzukaze admits that she's always had a mean streak and never been good at being nice and comforting like Murasame or Samidare. The only thing she can do well for her sisters is fight for them, so don't deny her that.* ''Fanfic/BloodyWay'': Mostly Roy's reason for assasinating. Though, he it could be that [[spoiler:he has nothing better to do.]]* This serves as Petra's approach to Thieves Guild work in ''FanFic/Draknophobia''.* ''Fanfic/SanzaSalazarSaga'': This is one of the reasons Sanza continues to put on the Red X suit and remain a thief even after working with the Titans so much.* ''Fanfic/SoldToTheHighestBidder'': This is one reason Eduard wants Ivan to keep him as a bondsman instead of setting him free; he's spent most of his life becoming good at this specifically. Luckily, he does find [[GadgeteerGenius another hobby]].* This is why Konori of ''Fanfic/ToAruverseRewriteProject'' intends to become a police officer once she's old enough.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* ''Film/ThankYouForSmoking'': Nick Naylor is a lobbyist for tobacco companies and invokes the trope by name in the movie (and the book?). He even associates with similar lobbyists (NRA and the alcohol lobbies) and discusses strategies and a viewer can tell that these people take pride in their work (at one point they're deeply insulted when Nick declares that only he would be hunted down by vigilantes for what he does). Later on, the Marlboro Man calls him out on it:-->"I was always good at killing VC, but I didn't make a career of it."* Yuri Orlov from ''Film/LordOfWar'' is an illegal arms dealer who has several reasons to quit - his wife threatening to leave him, a Interpol agent dogging him, and building a successful lumber export company, but goes back to arms dealing because, at the end of the day, it is what he's good at.* Famous dialogue between a cop (Creator/AlPacino) and a big-time robber (Creator/RobertDeNiro) in ''Film/{{Heat}}'':--> '''Neil [=McCauley=]:''' I do what I do best, I take scores. You do what you do best, try to stop guys like me.--> [...]--> '''Vincent Hanna:''' I don't know how to do anything else.--> '''Neil [=McCauley=]:''' Neither do I.--> '''Vincent Hanna:''' I don't much want to either.--> '''Neil [=McCauley=]:''' Neither do I.* Film/{{Elektra}} gives this as the reason for being an assassin when Abby asks.-->'''Abby:''' That's messed up.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature]]* Creator/RaymondEFeist's ''[[Literature/TheRiftwarCycle Riftwar Cycle]]'' describes [[LoveableRogue Jimmy the Hand]] thus:-->He took no pleasure in being a thief, but he took great pleasure in being a very good thief.* ''Literature/HonorHarrington'': Honor does what she does because she's "better at it than most other people" (almost direct quote from the book). Given as what she does is lead fleets into battle, and almost always wins, it might count. It's clear that she doesn't like it, just that she's very capable. She might not like the idea of killing hundreds of people on both sides in her actions, but even she admits at times that she enjoys the thrill of battle, especially if her target is someone [[ItsPersonal who]] [[MoralEventHorizon deserves it]]. Her own husband thinks of her as the Handmaiden of Death.* In ''The Lies of Locke Lamora'', the Literature/{{Gentleman Bastard}}s don't do anything with the huge amounts of money they acquire from their long cons. It just sits there. But they are ''excellent'' thieves, so why would they give up?* In Creator/DorothyLSayers' ''[[Literature/LordPeterWimsey Gaudy Night]]'', Harriet Vane discusses how she continued to write murder mysteries after being tried and acquitted for murder; she says that anyone with feeling would rather scrub floors, but it happens that she would scrub floors very badly and writes mysteries very well.* In ''[[Film/TheGodfather The Godfather Returns]]'', the {{interquel}} to ''Film/TheGodfather'', Vito Corleone is suggested as following this trope. During a flashback history lesson, the book discusses Vito's early days as Don. While his children were still growing up, Vito used his Genco Olive Oil delivery trucks to deliver alcohol during Prohibition, amongst other things. As Prohibition came to an end, Sonny and Fredo had joined "the family business".\\\\Even so, he had amassed millions of dollars: A staggering amount of money in the 20's and 30's that would let him and his family live in comfort for the rest of their days. Instead, he tried to form an alliance with Maranzano, the kingpin of New York. Maranzano refused, beginning the Castellammarese War that ended up Vito as the undisputed head of New York's underworld. Vito had made his fortune without stepping on anyone's toes and had sworn that his children wouldn't have to follow in his footsteps.\\\\With such a fortune and his own wits, there were any number of legal businesses and ventures he could have undertaken. However, the book suggests that once Sonny and Fredo were part of his business, he had to continue on the path he's chosen. Not only because he was so good at it, but because his two oldest sons were not good at anything else. Left on their own, with no supervision or protection, no real skills or education, and a criminal mindset, Vito felt they would both be dead within a year.\\\\This is also why Michael stays with gangstering later books. He keeps insisting he's somewhat ashamed of the family history and keeps wanting to go legit and "they're always pulling him back in", but the fact is he's really good as a ruthless criminal mastermind.* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel, ''Discworld/TheColourOfMagic'', there's a master architect, Goldeneyes Silverhand Dactylos. His backstory consists of him inventing marvels for various royals, only for his employers to mutilate him so that he couldn't repeat the invention for anyone else. When his latest employer asks why he didn't just give it all up and try flower arranging, he replies "I'm good at it."** [[spoiler: And is promptly killed.]]* Fisk, in the ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries'' is a good-hearted fellow who got into the con business to try and support his sisters, and since he's such a natural at coming up with unbelievable bull on the spot, kept with it. Until he got saddled with Michael, that is, and he still gets away with plenty of well woven lies and card tricks.* Li Kao from ''Literature/BridgeOfBirds'' is an inversion. Born to a pair of cons, he already had a natural talent for stealing. However, he also proved to be the smartest man in China, and when he grew up, he found that a life of crime was so easy it was ''boring''. Solving crime, however, was a much more interesting challenge, and he chose to do so for the rest of his life instead.* Literature/{{Spenser}} muses on this sometimes. For the most part, he sees violence as a byproduct of his job as a PI, but is also aware that part of the reason he picked this as his work is because underneath his DeadpanSnarker and GeniusBruiser personality, he is deeply violent, and this kind of job allows him to channel his violent impulses in a useful direction.* [[Literature/BelisariusSeries Belisarius]] doesn't particularly like being a soldier, but he's the best that the Romans have got, and he knows that the empire needs him as a general. Even if some days, he'd really rather have been a blacksmith...* {{Subverted}} by Peter Wiggin of ''Literature/EndersGame'', who once identifies his greatest gift as seeing the flaws in a system and bringing it down without even trying. He ''does'' do this, but he combines it with a much harder-won talent for building a better system out of the ashes to achieve world peace.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]* Nancy Botwin from ''Series/{{Weeds}}'' is much the same in her career as a marijuana dealer, or at least she thinks she is.* ''Series/BetterOffTed'': The case for most of the main cast, especially Ted, who's especially adept at his job and serves the morally questionable conglomerate Veridian Dynamics despite his otherwise squeaky clean morality.* ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'': One episode featured a handwriting expert who used his skills for nefarious purposes, "because I'm brilliant at what I do!". The expert was played by one Creator/StephenColbert.* ''Series/BreakingBad'': This is Walt's MotiveDecay, going from making meth to provide for his family when he's gone to making meth because it's the only thing that lets him use his previously wasted skill at chemistry. [[spoiler:He eventually admits this to Skyler in the series finale.]]-->'''Walt:''' Skyler. All the things that I did, you need to understand–-->'''Skyler:''' If I have to hear, one more time, that you did this for the family–-->'''Walt:''' [[spoiler:I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. And I was really...I was alive.]]* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' serial ''City of Death'', [[NotSoDifferent the Fourth Doctor and Professor Kerensky debate the ethics of messing with time]], and the Doctor replies, "Well, I'm a professional; I know what I'm doing." Then again, the Time Lords ''are'' professional time-travelers who make sure that the timeline doesn't get too screwed-up.** This exchange between the Doctor and Romana in "Nightmare in Eden":--->'''Romana''': I don't think we should interfere. --->'''The Doctor''': Interfere! Of course we should interfere. Always do what you're best at, that's what I say.* The reason Tyrion Lannister, acting Hand of the King, gives to his mistress in ''Series/GameOfThrones'' for remaining in the DeadlyDecadentCourt of King's Landing, despite the fact that people are trying to assassinate him and he is [[NoRespectGuy stripped of power]] after his father takes over as Hand of the King:-->'''Tyrion:''' I can't. I do belong here. These bad people... are what I'm good at. Out-talking them, out-thinking them... it's what I am. And I like it. I like it more than anything I've ever done.** Subverted in "The Queens Justice"-->'''Jon Snow:''' You've been talking with Tyrion?\\'''Daenerys:''' He ''is'' my Hand.\\'''Jon:''' He enjoys talking.\\'''Daenerys:''' We all enjoy what we're good at.\\'''Jon:''' [[ShellShockedVeteran I don't.]]* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': Root, on her track record of murder and theft: "My mom told me to follow my talents, and I'm good at what I do."* In ''Series/OrangeIsTheNewBlack'', the inverse of this is the reason given for Alex seriously contemplating going back to dealing drugs after getting out of prison - she doesn't know how to do anything else.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Sport]]* Boxer "Aussie Joe" Bugner's feats include going 12 rounds against Ali and Frazier and staging a surprisingly successful comeback in his middle age, but after his second retirement he admitted he never really enjoyed boxing.[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games]]* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'': At the climax, [[spoiler:Grey Fox]] laments that fighting was and is his only talent in life, but has some reconciliation in that he never sold out his beliefs and fought for a cause he felt was unworthy. This is a deliberate, non-callous comparison to Solid Snake at this point in the series, who is an even more gifted warrior yet has always blindly followed orders without philosophy.** The plight of those who are natural soldiers versus the concept of peace is one of the oldest and most important themes in the series. Solid Snake is loath to admit it even under the most excruciating duress, but he loves battle, and while his enemies often seek the proliferation of worldwide conflict for the benefit of natural-born soldiers like himself, he has a selfless moral instinct which forces him to stop them at any cost. In a meta sense we as players participate in this contradiction by playing the games because we enjoy and pay for simulated violence, yet portray characters who strive to prevent conflicts. The secondary plot line of the series follows the journey of his father, Big Boss, which sees him face the same quandary yet reach a completely different conclusion, choosing to fight because it's all he really has in his life and can't see any other alternative, nor does he think he needs a reason like following orders or wanting to stop the bad guys.*** [[ExpansionPackPast Though the prequels have added additional, increasingly nebulous reasons for Big Boss's actions.]]* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':** [[LatinLover Zevran]] from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' notes that even if he wanted to be anything other than an assassin, [[SociopathicHero which]] [[AntiHero he]] [[AffablyEvil doesn't]], he has been doing this work all his life and doesn't know how to do anything else. Well, nothing else that wouldn't get him arrested for performing in public.** [[PirateGirl Isabela]] in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' gives this as an excuse for her continued career as a pirate (other than simply [[FreeSpirit enjoying the freedom that comes with it]]), though other characters have pointed out that her skills could easily be put to use doing something else, and unlike [[DistaffCounterpart Zevran]], she ''chose'' to become a pirate and there's no one threatening to hunt her down if she quits ([[spoiler:Castillion comes close, but he really only cares about the tome she stole, not what she does with her life afterwards]]). One could make the case that this actually makes her come off as much more selfish, given how easily she can ignore the people her actions hurt. [[spoiler:The Qunari incident perfectly demonstrates what happens when this tendency reaches its zenith, leaving ''several hundred people dead'' because of her, yet it also marks the point where she starts to go through a bit of CharacterDevelopment. Provided she [[YouLoseAtZeroTrust has a good enough relationship]] with [[TheHero Hawke]] and doesn't [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear run off]] first.]]** Implied to be the reason why [[PlayerCharacter Hawke]] prefers to work outside the law as a PartTimeHero, instead of getting an actual job or position of authority in Kirkwall. Similarly, why they continue to perform [[AlmightyJanitor odd jobs]] for people around the city, even after becoming independently wealthy.* [[PlayerCharacter Niko Bellic]] of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' fame tells his cousin Roman that, although he'd like to settle down and live a normal lifestyle, his only skills are criminal.** Micheal De Santa of ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' claims this is his lot in life (being a former and successful bank robber) but in actuality, [[SubvertedTrope he craves an action-filled lifestyle to tear him away from the drudgery of upper class living and will find any excuse to justify his behavior]].** His partner, Trevor Phillips, uses similar rational, being a failed athlete (like Michael) and having been booted from the military due to his mental instability. Unlike Michael, who at least vocally bemoans the fact, [[EvilFeelsGood Trevor revels in finally having found something he can excel at, and is quite proud of it.]]* When asked why she became a [[HardboiledDetective private detective]], Petra from ''VideoGame/EmeraldCityConfidential'' responds that she took on the job because she was good at it. To be fair, she also has the option to justify her work by saying that she wants to [[WeHelpTheHelpless help the helpless.]]* Mondo from ''VideoGame/KillerIsDead'' apparently became an executioner after waking up one morning with a cybernetic transforming arm. Because when you have a cybernetic transforming arm, you might as well use it. [[spoiler:His backstory has him being really good at killing even before the event that took his arm happened.]]* In ''Videogame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'', Wilhelm's entire background and motivation are summed up as "As a kid/teenager, I was good at fights." Note that this is NotHyperbole. You can find logs from his attempt at getting an autobiography where his childhood and teenage years are literally summed up as "I was good at fights."[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Comics]]* Thief from ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' originally took up stealing in order to pay for his father's medicine, then kept stealing even after the situation was resolved. Then again, he's a protagonist from ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', and he's an elf from that comic. Screwing other people over is what those two groups do best.* Belkar from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' admits that "hurting people is the only thing I'm good at." Most of the time he doesn't have a problem with that. [[ReluctantPsycho Most of the time.]][[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Animation]]* ''WebAnimation/TheAccuser'': When interviewed by a reporter who described his recently acquitted client as a "racketeer and reputed killer", AmoralAttorney Dan Mason claimed he did his job and was "proud of it". His wife even complained he was "too good".[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Krusty the Clown once manages to refresh his comedian routine by starting to complain cynically about the modern world, and becomes popular as a stand-up act again. Soon, however, he's once again persuaded to start endorsing a product even in his act in the middle of complaining about everything else, immediately losing his credibility. He doesn't regret it, though, because as he explains he's realised his real talent isn't comedy - it's selling out.* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': Jack Spicer quits being evil only to turn back again when he is afraid he'll actually be ''worse'' at being good than he was at being bad. Ironic, given [[RedemptionPromotion he was much better at being a good guy]].[[/folder]]----